Marqise Lee

WR USC

Grade

4.52 SEC

38.0 INCH

127.0 INCH

4.01 SEC

Overview

2013: Honorable mention all-Pac-12 selection after playing in and starting 11 games. Missed three games due to a knee injury. 2012: First-team All-American selection, first-team All-Pac-12 pick and Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year selection. Won the Biletnikoff Award (given to nation's top receiver). Led FBS in receptions with 118. Had eight 100-plus yard games. 2011: Was a second-team All-Pac-12 pick. Played in 12 games and started in eight. Misc.: With deaf parents, he learned to speak sign language.

Analysis

Strengths

Very good athletic ability. Is a nifty runner after the catch -- can navigate through traffic and create with the ball in his hands. Can shift into top gear and run by tacklers -- terrific acceleration and short-area burst. Fine route runner -- understands how to set up defensive backs and has an innate feel for coverage. Understands how to manipulate man and zone coverage and can create separation when he needs to uncover. Very good hand-eye coordination. Tracks the deep ball very well -- has a knack for running underneath it. Attacks the ball and plucks it out of the sky. Very good competitive, functional playing speed. Has game-breaking return ability -- exceptional vision and traffic burst.

Weaknesses

Average size and run strength. Does not break many tackles. Was slowed by nagging injuries, and body is not built to withstand a lot of punishment. Can do a better job securing the ball through traffic -- has shown a tendency to flag the ball. Long-term durability could become an issue.

Draft Projection

Round 1

Bottom Line

An extremely motivated, dynamic, playmaking receiver, Lee's junior season was plagued by shoulder, knee and leg injuries and a revolving door at head coach, where he cycled through three. Showed all the traits desired in a No. 1 receiver early in his career and has overcome a lot of adversity in his life to get to this point.
-Nolan Nawrocki